Human trafficking has undoubtedly become a worldwide epidemic, but would you be able to recognize someone being trafficked before your very eyes? Unfortunately, because instances of human trafficking “go largely undetected or unreported,” it is often very difficult to identify those who are victims of the growing criminal industry. Difficult, but not impossible.
When I entered the restroom of a Tennessee Welcome Center on a recent road trip, I was confronted by a poster with the image of what seemed to be half of a young girl’s face. Closer inspection revealed that the image was an “optical illusion,” in that it was both the face of a young girl and the profile of her trafficker, depending on how you looked at it. The poster included a brief list of warning signs for detecting potential trafficking victims and read: “You see a girl who could do anything. He sees a girl he could force to do anything.” Although this image was a sobering reminder of how traffickers often distort victims’ identities, it also offers a message of hope: human trafficking can be stopped, and we all have the power to stop it.
During that same road trip, I also listened to a story on the Marketplace radio program about a victim of human trafficking whose “out-of-control ear infection” did not raise any suspicions as the warning sign it should have been during an emergency room visit. Although the signs of human trafficking do not manifest themselves identically in all victims, by educating healthcare providers, as well as the general public, on the common warning signs, we can take another step towards eradicating this horrific crime.
Since 2007, 551 cases of human trafficking in Pennsylvania alone have been reported. The National Human Trafficking Resource Center identifies the following warning signs for detecting potential trafficking victims:
Common Work and Living Conditions
- Is not free to leave or come and go as he/she wishes
- Is in the commercial sex industry and has a pimp/manager
- Is unpaid, paid very little, or paid only through tips
- Works excessively long and/or unusual hours
- Is not allowed breaks or suffers under unusual restrictions at work
- Owes a large debt and is unable to pay it off
- Was recruited through false promises concerning the nature and conditions of his/her work
- High security measures exist in the work and/or living locations (e.g. opaque windows, boarded up windows, bars on windows, barbed wire, security cameras, etc.)
Poor Mental Health or Abnormal Behavior
- Is fearful, anxious, depressed, submissive, tense, or nervous/paranoid
- Exhibits unusually fearful or anxious behavior after bringing up law enforcement
- Avoids eye contact
Poor Physical Health
- Lacks medical care and/or is denied medical services by employer
- Appears malnourished or shows signs of repeated exposure to harmful chemicals
- Shows signs of physical and/or sexual abuse, physical restraint, confinement, or torture
Lack of Control
- Has few or no personal possessions
- Is not in control of his/her own money, no financial records, or bank account
- Is not in control of his/her own identification documents (ID or passport)
- Is not allowed or able to speak for themselves (a third party may insist on being present and/or translating)
Other
- Claims of just visiting and inability to clarify where he/she is staying/address
- Lack of knowledge of whereabouts and/or of what city he/she is in
- Loss of sense of time
- Has numerous inconsistencies in his/her story
While this is not meant to be an exhaustive list, it is certainly something we should keep in mind as we “head out” into the world each day and interact with those around us. It just might save a life.
Author Emily Schrank is a first-year law student at the Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law. Emily is from Greenville, South Carolina. Prior to coming to law school, Emily received a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Notre Dame. After graduation, Emily hopes to work in the public interest field.
